First, an attempt will be made to distinguish Amos Bunner, the soldier, from his nephew of the same name.

     Amos Boner, the soldier, born about 1838/39, was the son of James Bunner/Boner and Susannah Ferrell, residents of Monongalia County, (W) Va. in 1850. James Bunner married Susannah Ferrell, d/o Robert Ferrell, 28 Sept 1813 in Monongalia County. They had the following children: Robert, b abt 1815; Randolph, b abt 1820; Rachel, b abt 1822; George Washington, b abt 1822?, Archibald, b abt 1825; Ferrell D., b abt 1836, and Amos.

     Robert Boner/Bunner, b abt 1815, married Mary Pride and they had a son, Amos, b abt 1853, who later married Mary Ann Freed, d/o Jacob Freed, Sr. & Elizabeth Trover. Some researchers of this family confuse this younger Amos Bunner with the soldier. The younger Amos was the nephew of Amos, the soldier. Brothers in the 11th (W) Virginia Infantry were Robert, Amos and Ferrell.

     The younger Amos, son of Robert, died in 1925 in Pleasants County, W. Va. He was residing with his daughter in Hebron, Pleasants County and his death record states that he was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Pleasants County. Some family members believe him to be the soldier but he was not. His father, Robert, however, was a soldier in the Civil War.

1850 Census, Monongalia County, (W) Virginia
#795-796
James BUNNER, 63, laborer, Va
Susannah, 54, Va.
Ferrell, 15, Va.
Amos, 12, Va.

     Amos Boner and Elizabeth Taylor, d/o George W. & Lydia Taylor, were married by J. Wolverton 30 Mar 1859 in Calhoun County, (W) Virginia. At the time of the 1860 census, they had one child, George W., age 6 months. He died as an infant, before Amos went to war.

     On 18 Aug 1862, Amos Boner enrolled in Company "C" 11th W. Va. Infantry to serve three years (later Company "K" 10th Infantry). He was discharged 29 June 1865 at Richmond, Virginia. He was a farmer 5 feet 10 inches tall, with dark complexion, black eyes and dark hair.

     While Amos was at war, his wife, Elizabeth, died in a fall on 14 May 1863. She left two daughters, Barbara E., born 25 June 1861 and Elizabeth, born 4 April 1863. They were taken in by their mother's parents.

     Following his discharge from the service, on 15 Dec 1865, Amos married Rebecca C. Sanders. She drowned 13 Feb 1866, only seven weeks after the marriage.

     Amos Boner died at Calhoun County 5 June 1868, apparently the result of physical deterioration brought on by mental illness. The two daughters of Amos Boner filed applications for government pensions later in their lives. His brother, Ferrell, stated in a deposition that before Amos died, he had to be tied up. It sounds like he probably died of dehydration and malnutrition related to his insanity. The daughters were unable to prove that the mental impairment - "softening of the brain" - was a result of his service in the war and their pension claims were rejected. After losing two wives so traumatically, that could not be ruled out as the cause of his mental breakdown.